Wild creatures - including rattlesnakes - have been a part of the ever changing ecological matrix in which fearful humans have evolved. Many of us have failed to come to terms with creatures with claws, big teeth or fangs. A few days ago I posted a picture (above) of a rattler sunning on the trail to Facebook with little comment beyond that it was photographed in a park in Oakland County. Over 30 comments came my way. Many praised its beauty and shared my excitment. I was especially happy with the spirituality expressed in a post and direct note from Sakoieta' Wedrick, an instructor at Brock University - Tecumseh Centre for Aboriginal Education and Research. He shared insightful thoughts on the Mohawk Community - Eastern Door Keepers of the Great Longhouse of the Iroquois Confederacy, timber rattlesnakes and their co-evolving history and human behavior.Thank you my friend!

I was saddened - perhaps angered - by a post from a woman that wrote: "I try my best to make them dead."That comment screams loudly there is much needed in the way of understanding and perhaps it was her subconsious fear of flesh-eating beasts - even though we are far from a prey species - that would create such a cruel, grim comment of anger and hate towards this beautiful creature. Another wrote to say she will rescue all creatures--except for rattlesnakes.

The rattlesnake I photographed was sunning peacefully on the trail just a few hours before torrential rains soaked the earth. Perhaps this highly evolved reptile sensed it was time to warm quickly to aid in digestion of whatever small meadow vole or other creature it consumed.

In Michigan this shy and reclusive reptile - a true pit viper that rarely exceeds two feet - is listed as a species of Special Concern and is fully proteced by law. They are not as rare as you may think. They live in most of our Metroparks, Oakland County Parks and SE Michigan DNR State Recreation Areas as well as private lands. Their cryptic camouflage pattern and reclusive nature keeps them out of sight, most of the time.

Almost all massasuaga bites occur on the dominant hand of intoxicated white males.No further comment needed there!Caution is needed around wildlife of all species. Fearful attitudes are not needed. Keep in mind Michigan has not had a rattler releated death in dozens of years, while every year, seven, eight or more people are killed in Michigan by deer that collide with cars.

I was thrilled by the encounter and the calmness of others that stumbled into the unplanned viewing and stayed with me until the snake slowly turned and headed back off trail. That did not happen however until I laid down on the pavment about four feer in front of the rattler for the image above. His tail sang with a warning rattle and two things happened at once. He pulled back. I backed up. His message was sent. We established a pact of non-aggression and went our separate ways.

Perhaps the rattler thought this sign along the trail meant he was to stay on the trail.

A road block on the beautiful Hike-Bike Trail first spotted by the in-line skater!

The snake stayed motionless, yet aware of a gathering of dangerous homosapiens.

Nothing like a great trail: for humans and sunbathing rattlers!

After telling me to "buzz off" with a vibating tail he did the same and headed for the grass.

A house wren and Kilimanjaro: Leaps of faith.

Fledgling house wren moments before first leap into flightphoto by Jonathan Schechter

Parental flights to and from the house wren nesting box overlooking my porch had become more frequent--almost frantic. Incoming flights delivered tiny bugs, grubs and other tiny wiggly meaty treats. Outgoing flights carried fecal sacs to keep living quarters clean. Yesterday, just after the sun warmed the weathered nest boxt he first restless fluffed up fledgling came to the 'door' and with little hesitation lept into the sky and succesfully switched to first flight mode. He fluttered to a limb on the arbor, clung on tight and looked about. "I did it!"For the wren it was bold leap into a dream of flight.

Two years ago I tossed and turned in restless sleep on the lower slopes of Kilimanajo after a hearty dinner that included tea laced with dark honey and 125 mg of Acetazolomide to decrease my chances of altitude sickness. At sunup I climbed out my tent, looked about our camp above the pink clouds, downed a fried eggs, more tea and a biscuit and took the first step into the rarified air finaly day's climb to the summit of this magincant volcano that is the roof of Africa.For me the emergence from the tent was my leap of faith. "I can do this." Seven hours later I was smiling on the summit. I wonder if the house wren at his first flight felt the same sense of pleasure that became mine at that moment of accomplishment. I don't see why not.

Excessive Heat Warning: A perfect day to be a pond turtle - or die.

Sign at the visitor center of Arches National Park - Utahphoto by Jonathan Schechter

The park rangers at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah do not pull any punches, our hold back when it comes to hot weather, heat emergencies and human foolishness. They make it clear to hikers with enough sanity to stop in at the visitor center that without enough water and constant hydration and rational behavior you may die on a hike. And their informational sign tells it like it is!

Oakland County is heading for the 100 degree mark Thursday and if you wait until you don't feel well, or are deyhdrated, you are already on the slippery slope to one of the heat maladies that may quickly morph into a life threatening emegency. A six-pack is not hydration. Water is. Today would be a perfect day to be a pond turtle paddling under shady lily pads or a 13-lined ground squirrel keeping cool in its burrow. Enough said by me. The rest is from the National Weather Service.Excessive Heat Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY...
.A PERSISTENT UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL MAINTAIN
THE PROLONGED STRETCH OF VERY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS OVER
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.HIGH TEMPERATURES
WILL MAKE A RUN TOWARD 100 DEGREES IN THE DETROIT AREA THURSDAY
AND WILL AT LEAST REACH THE MID 90S AS FAR NORTH AS THE TRI CITIES
AND NORTHERN THUMB. SOUTHWEST WINDS SUPPORTING VERY HUMID
CONDITIONS WILL BOOST HEAT INDEX VALUES ABOVE 100 DEGREES...WITH
PEAK VALUES FROM 105 TO 110 DEGREES THURSDAY. CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF
HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY WITH LIMITED RELIEF AT NIGHT WILL BRING
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR RESIDENTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN. THE
HEAT WAVE THIS WEEK IS EXPECTED TO BE OF THE LONGEST DURATION
SINCE JULY OF 1995.
IMPACTS...
* A PROLONGED PERIOD OR CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF HEAT CAN CAUSE A
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF HEAT STRESS TO SEGMENTS OF THE
POPULATION.
* THOSE PRONE TO HEAT STRESS MAY SUFFER HAZARDS TO HEALTH...
ESPECIALLY WHEN SHADE OR AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT AVAILABLE.
* STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITY MAY LEAD TO HEAT INJURIES SUCH AS
HEAT STROKE...HEAT EXHAUSTION...OR HEAT CRAMPS.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* THE HOTTEST STRETCH OF THIS HEAT WAVE WILL IMPACT SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN THURSDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB
INTO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 90S...WITH TEMPERATURES POTENTIALLY
REACHING 100 DEGREES ON THURSDAY.
* VERY MOIST AIR WILL REMAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN DURING
THIS TIME. THIS WILL KEEP THE HUMIDITY HIGH THROUGH THE
PERIOD.
* THE COMBINATION OF HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CAUSE HEAT INDEX
VALUES TO CLIMB BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES ON THURSDAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS...IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE.
WHEN POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY
MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT
EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE
FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
* TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST
BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE
OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED
LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY -CALL 911.

(On a personal note I am working a 12 hour shift Thursday as a paramedic in a busy urban hospital emergency department. The day will be interesting----for all emergency departments, firefighters and medics.)

Wildflower on the water: American Lotus

American Lotus at Lake Erie Metroparkphoto courtesy of Huron-Clinton Metroparks

A spectacular water flower is about to steal the show! American Lotus plants are blooming at Lake Erie Metropark, home to some of the largest American Lotus beds in Michigan. The beautiful yellowish-white flowers that are often confused with water lilies are one of the most spectacular wildflowers to be found on water. The American Lotus is a southern plant with a rich natural history that most likley migrated north with Native Americans that transported the tubers for a food source.

The park’s two main lotus beds are about two and five acres in size. The flowers can be seen from the Cherry Island Marsh Trail, located near the Marshlands Museum and Nature Center. Walk the trail any day, or take a guided walk to see the plants and learn about their roots into human culture on Sunday, August 7 at 2 pm during the “Lots of Lovely Lotus,” program. Preregistration is required. $3 fee.

American Lotus, alhough looked at as an invasive in some areas, is listed as an endangered species in Michigan,and has large, dark green leaves 18-20 inches across that provide perfect aircraft carrier size landing pads for dragonflies and shaded areas for fish. Their spectacular yellow flowers that can span eight inches add dramatic contrast to the leaves. For more information, contact Lake Erie Metropark Marshlands Museum and Nature Center at 1-800-477-3189 or 734-379-5020.

A vehicle entry permit is required to enter any Metropark. $25 annually for regular admission, $15 annually for seniors, or $5 daily. General information: www.metroparks.com or call 1-800-47-PARKS.

Sleeping Bear Dunes: Dance of the sun, the moon and the dunes.

All photos by Jonathan Schechter at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore July 15th and 16th, 2011(No filters used, not images edited of altered.)Mother Nature at her finest~!

Long ago in the land that is now Wisconsin, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michiganby a raging forest fire. They swam and swam but soon the two cubs tired and lagged far behind. Mother bear finally reached the opposite shore and climbed to the top of the bluff to watch and wait for her offspring. But the cubs drowned. Today, "Sleeping Bear", a solitary dune in Michigan overlooking Lake Michigan, marks the spot where mother bear waited. Her lost cubs are the two Manitou Islands.---an Anishinaaabek Indian Legend (reprinted from National Park Service brochure)

Sleeping Bear is a rugged and dramatic landscape, a masterpiece of ice, wind and weather.My favorite time to explore and camp in the park's back country remains autumn and winter.But even in the heat of the summer when the dunes are simmering with heat and tourist flood the roads even a short walk will set you free in the ever changing scene of this Michigan wonderland.

The rugged dunes of Pyramid Point, a personal favorite.

A nothern river otter with fish dinner in Good Harbor Bay

Curious fawn near Platte River Point

Full moon over Glen Lake (camera steadied with mini-tripod)

Sunset from Empire Bluff 1

Sunset from Empire Bluff 2

Sunset from Empire Bluff 3

A spider on Empire Bluff prepares for a night hunt against the red sunset

Sunrise at Platte River Point

Red fox track along the sands of Platte Bay (I followed for 1/8 of a mile)

The Platte River a few hundred yards from Lake Michigan

On the trail down from Empire Bluff.

A reminder to the public on bears. Bears are common at Sleeping Bear.
A few cougars have roamed the dunes. Wolves may be at the doorsteps.

Even in summer an early morning walk brings solitude in the land of the sleeping bear.

Lure of the full moon - dance of the sand dunes

photo by Jonathan Schechter

On the northwestern shore of Michigan's Lower Peninsula lies Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a glacially sculpted area of monsterous shifting sand dunes, sparkling lakes, dense beech and maple forests and rolling hills. It is here at Sleeping Bear that nature came togeather with her forces of ice, wind and water to create a terrain like none other. Coytoes, black bears and bald eagles are at home here and a cougar or too and most likley a few wolves have found their niche in this magnificant and diverse landscape that embraces Lake Michigan.

Sleeping Bear is my niche too, to recharge my nature passions and relax by this great lake gifted to us by a retreating glacier. Tonight I will camp somewhere near the dunes watching the full moon rise as she makes night shadows dance. And I'll think back to the Anishinaabek natives who settled here over 3,000 years ago. They too watched full moons make night shadows dance. For that is the nature of things in the land of freshwater sand dunes.

Chicory: Smile at the flower and drink the root!

CHICORY photo by Jonathan Schechter

There is no life without coffee, for coffee is one of the essential elements for human existence and the continuing evolution of mankind. Absence of coffee leads to madness, anarchy and other maladies.At least that's the way I see it.But there is a darn good coffee subsitute I am eyeing on the edge of my roadside at this very moment as I sit outside on a wireless connection and listen to a house wren sing away. That pale blue friend of herbalists and coffee lovers is chicory, an alien weed - a hardy perennial that has colonized the landscape. I love this plant as did the white-skin invaders in tall sailing ships that brought it to America's shores in the 1700's. Here is why: When the long thick tap roots are dried and roasted and chopped to pieces they make an excellent subsitute for coffee. The down side is their is no caffine. But it tastes good, has a roasted, nutty flavor and perhaps tricks my mind into thinking it's getting a morning fix.Chicory has other benefits beyond being a beverage and a delicate beauty. The root can be boiled as a vegetable, young leaves add a bite to salads and on-going research seems to confirm that chicory is good for the liver and blood and poultices of crushed parts can be used on bruises.And chicory blooming in fields and meadows brings back memories of summer camp days, when I was a bearded camp nauralist in the hills of Western N.Y. but that's another tale for another day.

The Oakland County Fair!

My yard sign is up and ready!all photos by Jonathan Schechter

TheOakland County fair starts Tuesday July 13th and runs through Sunday July 17th.Fairgrounds are at Springfield Oaks County Park in Davisburg, Michigan.For full details on the fair and all the special events, fees and fair schedule go towww.oakfair.org

Be sure to congratulate the future farmers, teens and kids who so proudly display their agriculture skills. And if the farm animals and fair events are not enough to keep you busy, the grounds include amusement rides and food vendors and of course - people watching. FYI: Leave your dog home, the fair grounds are crowded and not good for dog walking.This family friendly fair is patrolled by the Oakland County Sheriff's Deparment and on-scene emergency medical services are provided by the North Oakland County Fire Authority and Brandon and Groveland Fire Depts with Springfield Fire covering the demoliltion derby.

Romancing a hospital house sparrow

A young hospital house sparrow waits for lunch. Mine.photo by Jonathan Schechter

The letter "P" of the world Hospital makes for a perfect house sparrow nesting site.photo by Jonathan Schechter

I have a passion for toothy beasts. Wolves, cougars, bears, lions, coyotes, leopards and gators all make my heart beat faster. And I consider myself lucky having seen six of the seven. (No cougars) But even an interaction with the common house sparrow is pleasurable, and my on going romance with a family of these winged fluff balls of energy continues.

When I'm not out and about in the world of nature I work several days a week as an emergency department paramedic in a busy urban hospital. But I have my niche of sanity for lunch breaks -- a corner of the parking lot where I take my lunch most every day.And the house sparrows that nest in the letters HOSPITAL have found me.

Moments after walking out the ER door sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes the entire house sparrow family flaps over to jump about at my feet and do their best "Please feed me look!" they can manage. And I do. They have trained me well. And I'm just happy that as the romance continues not a single house sparrow has asked for narcotic pain medications: At least not yet.

Wild Berry Season: Watch out for one super berry!

photo by Jonathan Schechter

This is the season of the wild black raspberry and the juicy mulberry, two berries I search out on every hike I take in southern Michigan. It's a good hike when I return with fingers and tounge stained purple. Those are favorite berries of birds and more than a few mammals.

And we are also in the season of clusters of small greenish-white berries, a super hardy berry often found dangling down from leafy vines along trails, fence rows, poles and large hardwoods at the edge of fields. Those too are favorites of birds. They are not favorites of mine.

The Summer of 2011 is turning out to be a banner year for poison ivy and a bumper crop of this scourge (as far as humans are concerned) is heavy with fruit to ensure new plants in new locations next season. Many scientists believe posion ivy is becoming a super plant nourished by more than rains and warmth. Rising levels of carbon dioxide is a new catalyst. Co2 behaves like a growth hormone for poison ivy.Call the super ivy a give back from Mother Nature under attack. At this writing the berries are mostly green, but by August they take on a greenish-white hue. Bird's love'em and eat'em and when they poop the seeds out they spread'em far and wide.

A word ofcaution: If you think posion ivy is just a ground hugging plant think again. In Oakland County many of the vines are already over twenty feet high as the climb trees in search of sunlight, and the berry-heavy branchlets are at face-slapping level.A gift for birds. A hazard for humans that don't know their berries.

DEATH MOANS OF AN OLD BARN: Can there be an afterlife?

An unexpected window to the world on the leeward side of the old barn.all photos by Jonathan Schechter

I awoke to a crashing sound around 3 a.m. Living near a hilltop on a narrow road I assumed the worst as a loud secondary bang confirmed that sudden noise lulled me out of sleep. Perhaps another car was involved now as well? But the sounds were oddly muffled. I dressed quickly and went outside.Nothing in the road, nothing seemed amiss. Just flickering fireflies.

Dawn brought the discovery. A large section of the leeward side of the upper section of my barn had collapsed creating a new view to my meadow world. Gravity and weather and over 150 years of time sent me a message - the barn is dying. I love this old barn although I have known for years it is beyond restoration. Vultures often perch on the peak. Flying squirrels and screech owl have found their niches on the inside. And it is slice of what life used to be like in the 1850's.

But now Mother Nature has said it is time to fall. But I wonder: Can this barn have an afterlife?Is there a way I can get the barn dissasembled and use the strong interior beams of oak, the wonderful rock foundation and the good barn boards to construct a new building with a new life.The dream is rough, but it is there.Perhaps a stand alone one room structure with a view to the south, with a slanted earthern roof blended with the hillside. A wood stove. Plants. Books. And of course those beautiful barn beams for stability and beauty.I see a place to read, to relax, to sit by a fire -- a nature den, a new eye to the world.Maybe a one room guest house!

My question to you: How do I begin? Who do I talk with? How do I take an idea and give this old barn an afterlife it so deserves?

A Salute to the Daylily: Having your flowers and eating them too

'Wild' growing roadside day lily photo by Jonathan Schechter

Deer eat day lilies. So do I.Call this shared passion an act of having your flowers and eating them too. With the dawn of July SE Michigan roadside daylilies have added sparkles of orange to grassy berms and tall grass meadow edges. The common daylily is not native to America but came to our shores with early settlers that landed on the eastern shore and conquered and marched west.The invasion was a great success. For the invading humans. For the naturalizing orange-blossomed plant with great beauty and sweet taste.

I have been muching on daylilies for well over three decades. The raw petals are delicious when first picked at dawn and the closed pods can be fried like fritters. As a matter of fact the entire plant is edible and also offers tubers and young shoots in spring. I add petals to salads.CAUTION: Although considered an edible plant loved by foragers and used in soups and salads in some Chinese resturants, there are always some who can have stomach upsets with new foods. And never gather or pick any wild edibles from a chemical sprayed roadside or edge of major paved road.

About Me

Jonathan Schechter, a naturalist and resident of Brandon Township with a passion for outdoor adventure and severe weather events writes a weekly hiking column for the Oakland Press. He lives on 11 acres with a rich mix of wildlife, meadows, woods and wetlands. He has a Master of Science Degree in Forest Resources from the U. of Washington and is an active member of the Wilderness Medical Society certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support. His writings and nature photos reveal ways humans are subtly yet dynamically altering the behavior of wildlife leading to a corruption of nature's way and wildlife behavior. Join his Earth Almanac blog as Jonathan shares thoughts on our natural world in Oakland County and beyond.